Jim Thorpe

[Roadrunner]

Jim Thorpe's roommate aboard the Finlandia en route to the 1912 Olympics was John Oliver Johnstone, at the time the youngest athlete to participate in the Olympics (20 years old). I recently met with Johnstone's granddaughter, who said as the youngest of the group, he was the one who had to bunk with Thorpe. He was harassed by others on the ship for this, but developed what became a life long friendship with Thorpe and was an adamant supporter of reinstating his medals. I was told the bib in the image below was the one Johnstone wore for the Olympic high jump where he placed sixth. Comparing it to photos of bibs from the Olympics, however, I am doubtful this hand drawn number is the real deal. The program for the tryouts at Harvard runred41 posted above lists his number as 91, so it couldn't be the one worn for the trials either. Does anyone here think it's possible this could have been worn at the Olympics, or is it just family lore? I imagine if there is a program the bib numbers may be listed, and perhaps get me closer to a conclusion.